NEWS - Myanmar General Shrugs at '

Subject: NEWS - Myanmar General Shrugs at ''Prince of Darkness'' Tag
----------------NOTE: The General's propaganda is laffable.
Myanmar General Shrugs at ''Prince of Darkness'' Tag
Reuters
07-MAY-99
BANGKOK, May 7 (Reuters) - Myanmar's powerful
military intelligence chief has shrugged off the
nickname "Prince of Darkness," saying he is just a
loyal servant of the state.
Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt, considered the
most powerful figure in Myanmar's military
government, was asked by an interviewer to
comment on the media tag.
"I read an article or two that carried the term you
mentioned," he said. "I leave it to you to answer the
question. Personally I would like to think of myself
as a servant of the people who is trying to do the
best for the country."
Khin Nyunt's remarks were contained in the text of
an interview sent by the Yangon government to
news organisations on Friday. He rarely talks to
journalists.
The head of the Directorate of Defence Services
Intelligence is identified by Myanmar dissidents as
the power behind tough government suppression of
political opposition.
Khin Nyunt rejected allegations that the government
had forced mass resignations from the opposition
National League for Democracy over the past year
and blamed its leader, Nobel Peace laureate Aung
San Suu Kyi, for being "confrontational."
"They keep saying they want a dialogue with the
government, they are actually not sincere...and are
trying to put obstacles in the path to discussions,"
he said.
Khin Nyunt also brushed aside criticism of closure
of the country's universities for much of the past
decade because of student unrest.
"The closing of the universities is only temporary
and we are trying to reopen them in the near future,"
he said.
Khin Nyunt said the ruling State Peace and
Development Council remained united and rejected
suggestions of splits.
"This is a myth and a misinformation first spread by
expatriate dissident groups and then picked up by
the media with the malicious aim of causing splits or
at least giving the impression of splits within the
SPDC," he said.
He insisted that Ne Win, the octogenarian architect
of authoritarianism who ruled from 1962 until 1988,
was retired and dismissed suggestions he still
influenced decision-making.
"He has retired completely from politics and is now
engaged in religious devotion only. Since he is no
longer engaged in political matters, the question of
his influence in this sphere no longer arises," he
said.
Khin Nyunt also rejected as "misinformation from
insurgent sources" reports of forced military
conscription and defended relocation of villagers to
make way for construction projects.
Relocations were unavoidable with infrastructure
projects like dams but villagers were consulted in
advance, informed of the benefits, and steps were
taken to minimise disruption.
"Therefore there are no genuine complaints from
villagers who relise it is they themselves and their
communities who will benefit in the long run," he
said.
----------------NOTE: The General's propaganda is laffable.